Katrina M. Overby

Katrina M. Overby is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication within the College of Liberal Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She serves as the Vice Chair of the African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCD) of the National Communication Association (NCA) and contributes to the editorial board of Gatherings journal. Her activist scholarship centers Black feminist thought, media studies, and critical cultural communication with emphasis on Black digital communities.

Dr. Overby's academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Journalism from Indiana University
• M.S. in Mass Communications and Media Management from Oklahoma State University
• B.A. in Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism from Rust College (HBCU)

Her research investigates how Black women employ social media, storytelling, and placemaking for belonging, resistance, and care within digital and physical spaces. She examines communal connection and sisterhood as critical frameworks for understanding Black women's experiences in academic and public spheres, while advancing engaged pedagogy in communication education.

Recent publications reveal consistent application of Black feminist methodologies across communication, education, and cultural studies domains. Her work demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary reach through analyses of digital storytelling, community care practices, and spatial justice, with particular attention to Black women's navigation of institutional and online environments.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• 2024-2025 Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Faculty Pluralism Award at RIT

Dr. Overby actively connects academic work with public discourse through media engagements including WHAM-TV's 'Bright Spot' feature and RIT's AI voting integrity initiatives. She also delivered the keynote address at RIT's 2023 Let Freedom Ring celebration commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.